Bill Richardson

Shawn Thew / EPA

New Mexico Democratic State Governor Bill Richardson

The conversational format played to his strengths (geniality, public policy acumen), but once again the New Mexico governor failed to drive home a consistent message, reaching instead for his usual left-right-center grab bag of responses. Got a particularly harsh smack down by moderator Tavis Smiley for going over time on an answer, although others stole their own share of extra seconds.